Ramesh blasts BJP's claims on containing Naxals

April 26, 2009 23:03 IST

Jairam Ramesh of the Congress rubbished the Bharatiya Janata Party's claims that it had been sucessful in tackling naxal violence.

"The BJP manifesto claims that it will deploy the Chhattisgarh Model to fight the Naxalite violence in India. As this paper shows using official data, the so-called Chhattisgarh Model has completely failed to arrest Naxal violence in the state of Chhattisgarh that is ruled by the BJP. The incidence of Naxal violence has gone up 127% under BJP rule between 2003 and 2007, and deaths due toNaxal violence have gone up by 400% during the same period." Ramesh said.

"If there is an example of success against Naxal violence, it comes from the Congress ruled state of Andhra Pradesh, where, during the same period, incidence of Naxal violence has gone down 76%, and deaths due to Naxal violence have gone done by 68%.So, which party can be trusted to arrest Naxal violence? The facts speak for themselves," Ramesh asked.

In a stinging critique of the BJP manifesto, Ramesh pointed out that the 'Chhattisgarh Model' will be used for Counter-Maoist operations by the BJP was an eyewash.

Quoting statistics, Ramesh said," Though 13 states are affected by Naxal violence, only 4 states account for 85% of incidents and 91% of deaths. Of these, 2 states viz. Chhattisgarh and Bihar have BJP/National Democratic Alliance governments. Jharkhand was ruled by BJP till 2006. In 2003, Andhra Pradesh accounted for highest number of incidents of Naxal violence with 36% and civilian and police deaths with 27% of the total incidents respectively. In 2007, Chhattisgarh reported the highest number of incidents of Naxal violence with 37% and civilian and police deaths 53% respectively."

Ramesh claimed that Congress ruled Andhra Pradesh was the only state in India, which had successfully controlled Naxal violence. In BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, instances of Naxal violence has indeed increased several times.

Ramesh said that the current poll process in Andhra Pradesh has been free of Naxal violence, while Chhattisgarh witnessed maximum Naxal violence related incidents.